R&A launches course management system

The R&A has announced the launch of CourseTracker, a new online system that allows golf courses to manage and monitor their sustainability and efficiency

CourseTracker

The R&A has launched an easy-to-use online system that will enable general managers and club secretaries to manage their golf courses more effectively.

CourseTracker, which was unveiled at last week's British and International Golf Greenkeepers' Association Turf Management Exhibition, is designed to record course income and compare that to maintenance costs.

As such, courses are able to monitor their performance, ascertain areas of strength and weakness and identify where savings - for example, in terms of energy and water - could be made.

The new system - which has been endorsed by England Golf, the Golfing Union of Ireland, the Scottish Golf Union and the Golfing Union of Wales - also allows clubs to measure their performance against clubs of similar sizes up and down the country.

"There is more pressure than ever on golf clubs to make the right decisions to manage golf courses sustainable, efficiently and cost effectively," said Steve Isaac, Director - Golf Course Management at the R&A.

"CourseTracker can help them do that through recording, monitoring and reporting their activities and inputs.

"The aim is to give clubs more information and understanding of their course maintenance activities to enable them to improve performance."

Nick Bonfield
Features Editor

Nick Bonfield joined Golf Monthly in 2012 after graduating from Exeter University and earning an NCTJ-accredited journalism diploma from News Associates in Wimbledon. He is responsible for managing production of the magazine, sub-editing, writing, commissioning and coordinating all features across print and online. Most of his online work is opinion-based and typically centres around the Majors and significant events in the global golfing calendar. Nick has been an avid golf fan since the age of ten and became obsessed with the professional game after watching Mike Weir and Shaun Micheel win The Masters and PGA Championship respectively in 2003. In his time with Golf Monthly, he's interviewed the likes of Rory McIlroy, Justin Rose, Jose Maria Olazabal, Henrik Stenson, Padraig Harrington, Lee Westwood and Billy Horschel and has ghost-written columns for Westwood, Wayne Riley, Matthew Southgate, Chris Wood and Eddie Pepperell. Nick is a 12-handicap golfer and his favourite courses include Old Head, Sunningdale New, Penha Longha, Valderrama and Bearwood Lakes. If you have a feature pitch for Nick, please email nick.bonfield@futurenet.com with 'Pitch' in the subject line. Nick is currently playing: Driver: TaylorMade M1 Fairway wood: TaylorMade RBZ Stage 2 Hybrid: Ping Crossover Irons (4-9): Nike Vapor Speed Wedges: Cleveland CBX Full Face, 56˚, Titleist Vokey SM4, 60˚ Putter: testing in progress! Ball: TaylorMade TP5x